A few random questions

[Angi]

Well that is good news. I know cats and rabitts get garried away all the time here, but that might be from the hawks. We have a lot of hawks. I forget what type of owl we have. I want to call it a Box Owl, but I know that isn't right. It is the type that people build boxes for though.

 

[Madkins007]

# 1 is it okay to wash my feeding tiles in the dishwasher. I quit washing my bathtub that Trudy uses when I was told the cleaning products could be bad for her. Well I still clean it but with gentle products

#2 could an owl pick up a tortoise or turtle? I wonder if they could grab on to the shell.

#3 would a snake eat a small tortoise?

#4 I know some people use dirt for turtle substrate, but I am a little uneasy about it. I have a bag of organic soil I am tempted to use. Thoughts please!

1. Yes. it is a good idea to wash food and water dishes in the dishwasher at the right temps to sanitize them.

2. Yes, but a.) they are nocturnal and your torts should be sheltered then, and b.) they eat warm-blooded prey.

3. Yes. Indigo snakes are among those that are known to eat small turtles.

4. Give the Bioactive Substrate a try. See how at (http://tortoiselibrary.com/indoorhousing.html)

 

[DeanS]

ROTFLMMFAO! That's friggin' hilarious! I say so because when I worked at SD Zoo, most of the Keepers that I knew that kept snakes kept Indigos. I used to say there are more Indigos in San Diego than in the entire SE combined Better watch out Angi!

 

[ChiKat]

There is story today of a Chihuahua that was attack by an owl in suburban Chicago

My friend posted that story on Facebook: http://www.roadrunner.com/news/topi...uahua_survives_owl_attack_in_suburban_Chicago

I live about 30 minutes away which is scary. The dog was on a leash so thankfully it couldn't be carried away.
Makes me even more nervous to bring my Chihuahua outside! Although in my immediate area we don't have a problem with birds. Coyotes and foxes are a different story

/end hijack

Same thing back when I had horses. "Oh my, what do you do with them in the winter?!?! Don't they get cold???" Well, they come in and live in the kitchen, see.

haha you crack me up!

 

[Tom]

Well that is good news. I know cats and rabitts get garried away all the time here, but that might be from the hawks. We have a lot of hawks. I forget what type of owl we have. I want to call it a Box Owl, but I know that isn't right. It is the type that people build boxes for though.

Everything I wanted to say in answer to your OP has already been said. About the owl, Mark spelled it out. How is a strictly nocturnal bird going to even see a strictly diurnal tortoise? Much less hunt it and carry it away.

I think you are thinking of a "Barn Owl". They are pretty common in Southern CA.

 

[Angi]

Yeah I don't know why I didn't think of that. They don't start skreeching until evening. And I have only seen them out at night. At least my nighbors owls. I have seen other owls out in the morning.

Are Indigo snakes wild here or just pets?

 

[Kristina]

LOL, guys, I'll be here all week

 

[DeanS]

I think you are thinking of a "Barn Owl". They are pretty common in Southern CA.

Yeah! And not big enough to carry off a tortoise

 

[Angi]

My tortoises are little. Shelby is 4"and Bob is almost 5". We have huge hawks and ravens too. I will keep their pen covered until they are bigger. I just hope I have it is done by the spring. My big chalange now is getting to Home Depot with my husbands truck to bring home cinder block. I don't think it would be good for my car to carry more than a few. I should need two rows of 16.
Their pen is also in the fenced in part of my yard or I would also be worried about coyotes. They come right up to my fence. At night usually when they are out hunting. It drives my dogs crazy, but I love to hear them yip and howl.

 

[CtTortoiseMom]

The only question I can answer is..........EVERYTHING goes into the dishwasher. After supper I go around and grab water dishes, feeding slates, and anything else to fill up the dishwasher.

I never thought to throw the water dishes in the dishwasher. I am going to do that too!! Thanks.